20 Facts About Owen Aspinall

Owen Stuart Aspinall was an American attorney and politician who served as the 45th Governor of American Samoa from August 1,1967, to July 31,1969.

Owen Aspinall was born in Grand Junction, Colorado; his father was longtime United States Representative Wayne N Aspinall.

Owen Aspinall served in three government positions before becoming the Governor of American Samoa: the Deputy District Attorney of Mesa County, Colorado; Attorney General of American Samoa; and eventually Secretary of American Samoa, the islands' equivalent of a lieutenant governor.

Owen Aspinall signed a bill from the American Samoa Fono that would eventually give American Samoa a Delegate to the United States House of Representatives in the 1980s.

Owen Aspinall made a number of controversial decisions, including forbidding Korean and Samoan intermarriage.

Owen Aspinall helped bring an end to extreme violence between Korean and Chinese fisherman in Samoan waters.

Owen Aspinall was born on September 21,1927, in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Owen Aspinall's father was Wayne N Aspinall, United States Representative from Colorado's 4th congressional district and his mother Julia Edith Kuns Aspinall.

Owen Aspinall graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from American University in 1955, and set up a law practice.

Owen Aspinall spent many years in American Samoa, and married a Samoan woman in December 1966.

Owen Aspinall went on to become the Attorney General of American Samoa later in 1961.

Owen Aspinall became Governor of American Samoa on August 1,1967.

Owen Aspinall was accused of wiretapping phones on the islands, but none of his critics were able to produce evidence of any activity.

Owen Aspinall signed a bill out of the American Samoa Fono into law, against the wishes of the Department of the Interior, to send a Delegate to the United States House of Representatives from American Samoa.

Owen Aspinall drew criticism for forbidding a Samoan woman from marrying a Korean man; the two sued the governor.

Owen Aspinall defended his decision by stating he was keeping disgruntled fishermen from jumping ship in Samoa; he sought to keep Samoa "for Samoans", despite the fact that he married a Samoan woman himself.

Owen Aspinall had to contend with violent clashes between Korean and Chinese ethnic groups who fought with knives and clubs off the shore.

Owen Aspinall requested riot gear to put down the violence.

At one point, Owen Aspinall had to close the port of Pago Pago.

When Richard Nixon became President of the United States, Owen Aspinall handed in a pro forma resignation, as the Secretary of the Interior was likely to soon replace him with a Republican.